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TOPUCU Adult Faith-Based Workbook                                                                        Lesson 3: Part 1



 LESSON 3: PART 1
            in peace. That would have been infinitely                Pain is one reason why people don’t
 PAIN IS A MUST  easier for David, right? Of course it would.        complete the change they set out to
                                                                     accomplish. It’s the reason why so many
            We can all agree it would have been less
            painful. And as human beings, pain is often              people never achieve weight loss, overcome
            a tool used to tell us when to run away from             their addiction or other challenges. When
            something that can hurt or is hurting us.                something starts to hurt or there is mental
 David is one of the most well-known and   would be only natural that we would actively   And while that is necessary in some cases,   discomfort many people shy away. They
 discussed figures from the Old Testament.   try to avoid things that cause us pain. Indeed   the mistake many of us make is we run away   don’t understand that pain is a must.
 The Bible recounts many aspects of his life   there are some painful aspects of life that are   from all pain - even the pain that can help    Let’s look at fitness as an example.
 and we see that although he eventually   truly unavoidable and unpleasant, such as   us. In many circumstances pain is beneficial   Bodybuilders experience two distinctive
 became a mighty and respected king, things   the loss of a loved one or a life-altering injury.   and necessary for growth. We’re going to   types of pain – pain of effort, the workout,
 were not always easy for him. In fact, it was   Those are the types of pain we wish we never   discuss why you don’t want to avoid all    and the day-after soreness. Think about
 after the prophet Samuel had prophesized   had to deal with. But that’s not what we’re   pain in the future.   someone doing bicep curls with a 25 pound
 young David’s future kingship that his story   talking about here. Today we’re going to   Change can be difficult. We’ve discussed   dumbbell. They go through a series of
 takes a number of dark turns. King Saul, who   learn that some types of pain are not only   that several times over the first few lessons.   repetitions; pumping that weight, feeling
 David was in line to succeed, proceeds to   beneficial, but a necessary part of life. In fact,   When you’re creating a new habit you’re   good about what they’re doing. But then as
 make David’s life a living hell. On several   if you’re serious about this program and you   literally rewiring neural pathways in your   their muscles begin to really burn, they put
 occasions Saul even attempted to kill David.   want to see true transformation in your life,   brain. It’s uncomfortable and challenging and   the weight down and take a break. That’s a
 you’re going to have to accept the fact that
 “…while David was playing the harp with    pain is a must. That’s right. Today’s Lesson is   we often wonder, “Is the goal I’m trying to   huge mistake. All the work that was done in
 his hand, as usual; and a spear was in    entitled, “Pain is a Must.” Without pain there   accomplish worth the pain it’s going to take   the initial repetitions is actually preparing
 Saul’s hand. Saul hurled the spear for he   is no growth. We’ve all heard the expression,   to get there?” There’s an easy answer to that   the muscle for those tough repetitions at the
 thought, 'I will pin David to the wall.'    “No pain; no gain." Well, it’s not just a catchy   question: YES! It’s worth it every single time.   end. The painful reps are the most important
 But David escaped from his presence    phrase; it’s absolutely true.
 twice." 1 Samuel 18:10-11 (NASB)  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every
 Now, as with all the lessons, the first part   branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit
 With Saul’s wrath growing more each day,   will teach you about the principle and break
 and his attempts to kill David getting more   it down. Then the second part of the lesson   he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." — John 15:2 (NIV)
 frequent, the future king had a choice to   will teach you how to go through a mental
 make: Would he be prideful and stay - which   transformation by giving you the secrets and   Don’t you remember? Whenever you start   part of the workout. The pain you experience
 would mean he’d have to endure the pain of   tools that champions and successful people   something and you don’t finish it – The Only   in the last few reps, if done properly, should
 constantly being on the defensive, guarding   use in order to not only make pain bearable,   Person U Cheat is U. That’s what TOPUCU is   hurt tremendously, because what you are
 himself against Saul’s men and fighting   but embrace the pain that leads to amazing   all about. It’s about transformation and it’s   feeling is the tearing down of the muscle. As
 for his life each day until he became King.   positive results.   about finishing.  the muscle heals over the next day or two,
 Or would he flee from Saul’s kingdom and                            it will become stronger and more resilient,
 endure the pain of living in the wilderness   So let’s get down to it. In the story of David,   In John 15:2, Jesus says, “I am the true vine,   resulting in more strength and durability.
 for years, maybe decades, until Saul’s death?   we know he eventually becomes one of the   and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off   This is the day-after soreness. The pain of
 Either way, David would have to deal with   greatest kings of all time. He went through   every branch in me that bears no fruit, while   effort is encountered when someone is
 some hardship. Either way, he would have to   the trials and tribulations and when it was all   every branch that does bear fruit he prunes   unaccustomed to exercising certain muscle
 experience pain.  said and done he was exactly who Samuel   so that it will be even more fruitful.” (NIV)   groups or training with heavier weights. The
 prophesied he would be. Imagine, however,                           effort required causes pain to the point that
 That’s the concept we’re going to talk about   if David would have tried to avoid the pain.   This scripture reveals a poignant truth about
 today: pain. It’s a scary word, isn’t it? The   Imagine, if he had given up on becoming   growth and change – if you’re going to be   an inexperienced bodybuilder may quit right
 vast majority of people listening to this will   king, and instead went back home where he   like a tree that bears great fruit, you will    then and there, not allowing for the tearing
 immediately associate the word pain with   would be a shepherd raising his family    have to deal with some pruning; some   down of the muscle which is necessary in
 something negative from the past, and so it   cutting; some pain.   order to achieve increased strength and



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